Conte counting on Blues’ ‘family spirit’
Chelsea manager seeks inspiration, tips from rugby ‘winner’ Jones ahead of Swansea battle
>> LONDON: Chelsea manager Antonio Conte will hope to take inspiration from England rugby union coach Eddie Jones when his Premier League leaders face Swansea City at Stamford Bridge today.
Conte demonstrated his desire to improve his team’s performance when he shared ideas with Jones, who has a perfect record of 15 wins from 15 games since taking charge of England, with his latest success a 21-16 defeat of Wales.
“Eddie is a winner and he is transferring that mentality on to the team,” Conte said ahead of facing Chelsea’s own Welsh opponents.
“It is important for me to compare my work and experience with another sport to gain inspiration and tactical ideas for the future,” the Italian added.
The Blues, into the FA Cup quarterfinals with last weekend’s defeat of Wolverhampton Wanderers, return to Premier League action aiming to consolidate their eight-point lead at the top of the table.
With j ust 13 top-flight games remaining — and having suffered just one league defeat since September — the chances of Conte’s side allowing their rivals to close the gap appear remote, despite drawing two of their last three league games.
Conte’s success at Stamford Bridge has been in reviving a team that finished 10th last season and the coach insists the foundation for his side’s improvement lay in the Blues backto-back league defeats by Liverpool and Arsenal in September.
“It’s important not to forget totally the two defeats because when you lose the game you can learn a lot. And I think we learnt a lot.
“To win, not only one game, not one battle but the whole war it is important to create a good spirit.
“To create a team, and to try to exploit every single player, the talent of every single player in the best way you must find right solution, the right system, to create a family spirit, a good spirit.
“Then in the negative moments it’s important to have a family. If you have a family, you solve the situation and then can go forward.”
Today’s game marks the return of Paul Clement to Stamford Bridge, the Swansea manager having worked as Carlo Ancelotti’s assistant at the west London club.
Clement’s recent arrival at Swansea has triggered an upturn in form that has moved the Welsh side four points clear of the relegation zone.
But Clement has also credited the contribution of his backroom staff with helping turn things around at the Liberty Stadium, including Claude Makelele.
Now Clement wants to keep the former Chelsea midfielder at Swansea beyond the end of the season.
“If we keep moving in the direction we’re going there would be no reason to change anything,” he said.
“He [Makelele] does not have so much coaching experience, but he has a good feel for players, one-to-one, he has great knowledge of the game having played at such a high level.”
Second placed Manchester City are not in action this weekend because their derby against Manchester United was postponed due to their rivals’ League Cup final showdown with Southampton tomorrow.
On Monday, champions Leicester will start the post Claudio Ranieri era as the troubled champions host Liverpool in their first match since the Italian’s shock dismissal on Thursday.
Assistant manager Craig Shakespeare and Mike Stowell have taken caretaker charge ahead of Monday’s clash at the King Power Stadium.
Liverpool can’t afford any sympathy for Leicester’s plight as they aim for a win that would take them back into the top four.
Juergen Klopp’s fifth placed team ended a run of five games without a win by beating Tottenham and Reds midfielder Adam Lallana, who signed a new contract this week, is confident of a strong finish to the season.
“We have a world-class manager and coaching staff and because it’s Liverpool there is that added X-factor of the supporters and what success would mean to them when we achieve it here,” Lallana said.
Third placed Tottenham must beat Stoke at White Hart Lane tomorrow to keep alive their slender hopes of overhauling Chelsea.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side are 10 points adrift of their London rivals after winning only one of their last four league matches.
“When we start a game, if you only watch 50 seconds, you don’t need to be a genius to know we may struggle and have some problems in that game,” Pochettino grumbled.
“The problem is when you start not in a good way, it’s too difficult to change that perception and then you give a very good signal to the opponent that you are not focused on the game.”